Chapter 6 – True Colors All Around

She was late! She’d invited him to the premiere and she was late. Running as fast as she could in three inch heels she dodged passed people down the crowded side walk. Seeing the theatre just up ahead she ducked in to see Eric waiting next to the ticket takers booth. Smiling slightly she ran her fingers through her hair to try and tame it from her from her mad dash before making her way to him.

“Eric!” For a moment she thought she saw something close to relief flash across his face.

“Sookie, right on time.”

“Actually I’m late but thanks for that. Sorry, I’ll explain after the movie. Shall we?”

As they took their seats in the dark theatre she thought momentarily about Bill before pushing those thoughts aside. She would have fun tonight!

Eric sat beside his future lover and tried to dispel the feeling of unease that had grown within him with every minute that had passed since the appointed time of their… outing. He could admit if only to himself that he had been worried that she may have changed her mind about forgiving him.

As the movie started he paid little attention to it far more fascinated by Sookie’s reactions than anything playing out on the screen. Her emotions and reactions ran the gambit from laughter to tears and everything in between. She was very expressive. Two hours later when the lights finally went up again he had to fight the feeling of disappointment that threatened to overwhelm him. He had so enjoyed just being able to watch her that he didn’t want it to end. As they strolled across the lobby to the door he thought frantically of an excuse to stay in her company.

“The café around the corner serves True Blood if you would like to give me that explanation.” He watched as confusion was replaced by understanding and then amusement in her eyes.

“Sounds good to me.” It sounded good to him to. The walk over was uneventful and peaceful. Something that could rarely be said when the two of them were together. Once they sat at their table and ordered, he could stomach that vile brew if it would help him gain the future he saw, he calmly waited for her explanation.

“So a pipe in my basement burst. That would have been bad enough but I would have been on time, but it somehow knocked out my power. Just my luck right. I was late so that some creepy electrician could tell me I couldn’t get my power back until tomorrow.”

There were several ways he could react to this news. He would try the one he wanted the most and work from there.

“I have a spare bedroom if you need a place to stay.” He tried to remain casual, no pressure.

Sookie knew she should say no. Bill wouldn’t be happy if she stayed with Eric. She had been planning to stay at Bill’s, but his house kind of creeped her out when Bill was away. It felt almost like staying in your grandparent’s house while they’re away. Afraid to touch anything because you know that if you do there’s a very good chance you’ll be scolded for it when they get back and see that things are slightly out of place. Eric had behaved the entire night, even though he hadn’t watched a second of the movie. And she could admit if only to herself that she was more than a little curious about where a thousand year old Viking slept when given the choice.

“That sounds nice thanks.” She could tell she’d surprised him. He’d expected her to say no. Some small part of her rejoiced. How many people could say they could surprise someone like Eric? Not many she would wager. Taking a small sip of her coffee she started to make a mental list of all the things she needed to do before the night was through.

Pulling into his driveway Eric wished that Sookie was sitting next to him in his car so he could see her first reaction to his home, but she’d had a point. She needed her car to be able to go home during the day tomorrow and deal with everything, plus she had work at that Shifters bar. While he knew he would share many firsts with Sookie soon enough he found he wanted to experience them all with her and resented being robbed of this one.

Sookie had a hard time closing her mouth, but she finally managed it. His home was magnificent at night; she couldn’t wait to see it during the day. It wasn’t the huge mansion she’d been expecting, but it was a good bit larger than her own home or even Bills. What caught her attention and held it were the beautiful stain glass windows that held every color she had ever seen. Getting out of her little yellow car, which looked a bit out of place, she grabbed her overnight bag out of the backseat and slowly walked towards Eric.

“What do you think of my home?”

“Wow, seems inadequate, but it’s the only word that comes to mind. I love the windows.”

The windows? Most people would mention the size, the design, or the grounds but not Sookie. He should learn to always expect the unexpected with her. Opening the door he bowed slightly before gesturing for her to enter ahead of him. The look on her face as she took in every detail of his home nearly made up for not seeing her initial reaction to it, nearly. As he led her up the spiral staircase to her room he took pleasure in her stunned silence.

He was a collector of beautiful things and his home reflected that.

“This is your room Sookie.”

He’d had the room redecorated to be “her” room the day after they were shown their futures. It was a room that at a glance would seem decorated for just anyone who happened to use it, but closer inspection would show how much care was taken with it. The bedspread and matching sheets were her favorite color. The walls were painted to match the exact shade of her warm eyes. A million other things proclaimed this room as hers. Her expression of awe and wonder made it absolutely worth it.

“What would you like to do until time for you to go to sleep?” He knew what he’d prefer but he was trying very hard to behave himself. He needed to be the perfect gentleman if he wanted his future with her.

“Hmmm, do you play chess?”

“Of course.” What strategist did not?

They played six games of chess. He won the first game, to which she cried best two out of three. She won the second and he the third. When she won the first game of their second set he cried the same, which had her responding ‘screw that you lost’. He couldn’t help but laugh at that. She had relented of course once he appealed to her sense of fair play. Of course he’d paid so little attention to the actual game by that point she’d won all three games before going to her room gloating all the way.

Sookie woke to a beautiful light filled room. It took her a moment to remember where she was. Once she did she couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at her lips. She packed quickly checking to see she had a little time before the electrician got to her house. Jogging out to her car she turned back a moment only to catch her breathe. The sunlight was captured in the stained glass making all the colors look like dancing flame. Quickly snapping a picture with her phone she headed home.

After getting a mind numbing estimate from the electrician she sat at her laptop and uploaded her pictures of Eric’s windows. She e-mailed them to him thinking he should see what his home looked like in the sun. It was pure magic.

Bill could barely restrain his smile of satisfaction as he stopped in Merlotte’s parking lot. He was now Investigator of Area Five, just one step below Eric. They were still not equals but when he’s explained everything to Sophie-Anne she’d given him his new status with the strict instructions to bring the girl to heel soon. Now he had the standing necessary to block Eric’s pursuit of Sookie.

Walking into the disgusting bar owned by the equally disgusting shifter his darling claimed as a friend he spotted his love immediately. He moved towards her intending to share the news of their good fortune when he caught a familiar scent coming from her, Eric. Grabbing her arm without a word he dragged her outside. Once away from the vermin that frequented the establishment where she worked he turned to her.

“Bill what the Hell!”

“Why do you smell like Eric?” He would have an explanation, and he would have it now!

“How dare you drag me out of a public place, where I work, and make demands of me. You need to get control of yourself. Now I’m going back to work, my shift ends at two, we can continue this conversation then at my home if you want.” As she tried to walk passed him he grabbed her arm again to stop her. She would answer him. Now!

Sookie looked down at the restraining hand on her arm in disbelief.

“Bill what are you doing? Let go of me this minute!”

“Answer my question Sookie. Why do you smell like him!?” His fangs had dropped down in his fury, which just worked to raise her own. How dare he!

“Fine if you must know I spent the night at his place.” She didn’t enlighten him to the reasons and he didn’t ask. For a second as she watched rage darken his features she was truly afraid of him.

“You did what!”

“Let go of me Bill! You’re my boyfriend, not my husband, and after tonight you’re not even that anymore.” As she finished her little tirade Sam came bursting out the door with his shot gun.

“I believe she told you to let go of her Bill.”

She saw the moment of indecision flit across his eyes. That one moment when he thought about just killing Sam and it turned her blood to ice. He tossed her arm away from him in disgust before he sped away. Hugging her arms to her for a moment she looked into Sam’s sympathetic eyes with tears filling her own. How had she never seen that side of Bill before?

Bill paced the small confines of his living room trying to calm down. He knew he’d overreacted and damaged his relationship with Sookie, but he would work things out with her. He had to, she was his. He would not allow Eric to take her from him.

Sookie sped down the road towards her house dreaming about a nice hot bubble bath, she deserved it after tonight. She still couldn’t understand what had gotten into Bill. Catching a glimpse of something in her headlights she slammed on the breaks. What the…